Fabric retaining device



June 30, 1953 w. w. HAEFLIGER FABRIC RETAINING DEVICE 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19 1951 INVENTOR.

June 30, 1953 w. w. HAEFLIGER 2,643,399

FABRIC RETAINING DEVICE Filed May 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 1 E] 3 H 2 IT a '2.

Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE FABRIC RETAINING DEVICE William W. Haefliger, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 19, 1951, Serial No. 227,259

8 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet retaining devices in a mattress, cushion, or like article. 'In such articles it is usual to spread the lower sheet over the upper cushion or mattress, permitting the sheet to drape over the cushion sides. The sheet ends are then manually inserted between the upper cushion or mattress and the lower cushion or box springs. This procedure is disadvantageous for several reasons. First, the mattress thickness is limited by standard sheet sizes, i. e., the upper cushion cannot be made too thick or else the sheet ends will not extend sufficiently inwardly between the upper and lower cushions to be frictionally retained thereby. Secondly, the normal frictional retaining forces holding the sheet ends between the upper and lower cushions are not sufiiciently great tohold the main body of the sheet tightly stretched on the upper surface of the cushion; the weight of a person lying thereon will very often cause the sheet ends to be loosened and pulled out from between the upper and lower cushions, and the resulting disarrangement of the loosened sheet on the upper surface of the cushion contributes to a large extent to the discomfiture of the person lying thereon. Moreover, it is well known that the frequent movements of restless sleepers are quit likely to loosen the sheet covering the upper cushion.

For the above reasons, it is now proposed as a primary object that a sheet gripping unit be combined with the cushion so that the sheet may be stretched tightly over the cushion and held in this position regardless of the forces tending to loosen it, created by the weight of a person lying thereon.

It is a second object to combine the sheet holddown device within the upper cushion body in such a manner that the exterior of the cushion may present a smooth appearance and thereby preclude the tearing of the sheet material.

A third object is to combine the sheet holddown device with the side portions of the cushion so that the thickness of the cushion will not be limited by standard sheet sizes.

A fourth object of this invention is to provide a sheet retaining or gripping device within which the sheet may be easily inserted and withdrawn.

A fifth object is to provide a sheet gripping de vice, the retaining forces of which are to a certain extent dependent upon the weight of a person or other object being applied to the upper portion of the cushion.

Additional aims, objects, and advantages of this invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after construction and operation of the apparatus is understood from the within description.

It is preferred to accomplish the numerous objects of this invention and to practice the same substantially in the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a cut-away view of a cushion embodying the present invention, wherein is shown the position of the sheet gripping or hold-down device as related to the exterior and interior cushion construction.

Figure 2 is a cross section of one side of the cushion showing in detail the construction of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken through Figure 4 showing the relation of the cushion body to the position of the air-filled rubber tubes shown in Figure 4 in detail.

Figure 4 is a section of another form of the invention showing air-filled rubber tubes in cross section related to and in combination with the elements shown in Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the reference character i denotes generally the completed cushion with the cover fabric 2 enclosing the same and concealing the inner body, and in general giving the cushion the appearance of the conventional style of mattress except for the longitudinal envelope or opening 3, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4. This envelope 3 extends inwardly from the sides of the cushion to a point several inches within the cushion body, and is bounded above and below by the inwardly extending fabric portions or layers 2a and 2b, which form an inward continuation of the external portion of the cushion cover fabric '2.

Above and below the inwardly extending fabric portions or layers 20: and 2b are positioned compressible means such as soft resilient pads 4, which extend longitudinally in a direction parallel to the side of the cushion and inwardly as far as the most inward portion of the fabric portions or layers 2a and 2b. These rubber pads 4 are preferably made of a foam rubber material which is compressible and resilient. Above the upper pad and below the lower pad are positioned thin sheets 5 of a light stiff material, such as a thin board or hardened plastic material. These boards 5 extend inwardly as far as the rubber pads 4, but are only a few inches wide, so that individual pairs of gripping arms 6 which exert a compressive force holding the gripping components together may bear against the boards and be resisted by only so much of the partially compressed rubber pad material 4 as to result in the desired pinching or gripping force within the envelope 3. It will be understood that individual pairs of gripping spring arms 6 are positioned as described above inside the cushion body and along the sides and corners thereof in sufficient quantity to give the desired pinching force within the envelope at a sufficient number of points to cause the envelope to effectively grip and retain the free ends of the fabric or sheet material held therein. This retaining force will be sufficient to frictionally hold the free ends of the sheet material within the envelope 3 against a certain amount of force tending to pull the sheet ends outwardly from the interior of the envelope 3.

Above the upper boards 5 and below the lower boards 5 are also positioned helical springs 8 which not only position the gripping components of the cushion, comprising the envelope 3, rubber pads 4, boards 5, and gripping springs 6, but also serve their usual function which is to resiliently hold the cushion shape against compressive forces deflecting the cushion body. The springs 8 may or may not be joined to helical springs 9 in any conventional manner. However, springs B are preferably horizontally offset onehalf spring diameter from springs 9 in a direction parallel to the side of the cushion. This arrangement permits the curved portion ll] of the gripping spring to lie between longitudinally adjacent springs 9, since spring arms 6 forming an extension of the curved portion are located directly below the helical springs 3.

Between the inner cushion cover fabric l I and the outer cushion cover fabric 2 may be inserted padding I2 of felt, kapok, or any suitable material for the purpose.

If desired, the gripping springs It] may not be included in the cushion construction. Helical springs 8 may be made to exert a gripping force holding the envelope gripping section together so as to retain the sheet ends within the envelope. Or, upper and lower helical springs may be joined together by means of a continuous spring wire or other gripping means which extends rightwardly over the surface of the upper board 5, curves downwardly at the innermost sides of the pads 4, and then curves leftwardly to extend back over the surface of the lower board to meet the lower helical spring 8.

In Figure 4 is shown a modification of the section depicted in Figure 2, wherein flexible pneumatic tubes, l5 and 16, run parallel to the cushion sides, between the rubber pads 4 and the inwardly extending layers of the surface cover fabric 2, which form the envelope. Longitudinally extending tubes l5 and I6 are joined by vertical tubes [3 and M which extend vertically through the rubber pads 4, the boards 5, the upper and lower helical springs 8, the inner cushion cover II and the padding l2. Tubes l3 and I4 join horizontal tubes [8 at the bends I1 in the tubing. The horizontal tubing [8 lies within the padding material and extends over the length and width of the cushion, as shown in Figure 3. It will be seen that the forces due to the weight of a person or object lying upon the cushion will collapse portions of the horizontal tubing 18 and the entrained air will be forced into tubes I3, l4, l5 and I6, causing these tubes to assume a rounded shape. The envelope formed by inwardly extending fabric portions or layers 2a and 2b will be c0rrespondingly deflected due to the additional compressive forces set up in the rounded air-filled tubes l5 and I6. Tubes l5 and I6 are offset sidewardly from one another so as to cause the gripping envelope 3 to assume an S-shape in which the adjacent layers or portions of fabric 2a and 2b are tightly pressed together. It is readily apparent that the sheet ends retained within the envelope will be held more tightly by the envelope at the time when the forces tending to withdraw the sheet ends from the envelope are greatest, namely, when a persons weight rests upon the cushion. Thus, a sheet held by a cushion of this type is firmly secured in a smooth stretched condition, for its ends are at all times held frictionally retained within the cushion body.

A cushion of this type may be made thicker or deeper than conventional cushions or mattresses, for its depth will not be governed by standard sheet sizes. Furthermore, a sheet may be easily inserted in such a cushion by merely pushing the sheet ends within the envelope opening. To Withdraw the sheet ends, the envelope 3 may be manually spread, and the ends removed. Upper and lower fabric handles of conventional style may be fastened to the upper and lower external cushion sides, and the cushion bodily raised by graspin the lower handle. The cushion may, of course, be turned over without altering any of its sheet gripping properties.

While this invention has been described in detail in its present preferred form, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It is desired in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

I claim:

1. In a cushion, an internally positioned gripping element comprising: fabric layers lying within said cushion and communicating with the external portion of said cushion; resilient means positioned above and below said fabric layers; and compression means holding said resilient means in compressive relation with said fabric layers whereby said fabric layers are compressed together by said compression means.

2. In a cushion, an internally positioned gripping element comprising: fabric portions lying within said cushion and communicating with the external portion of the cushion; resilient means positioned above and below said fabric portions; and compression means positioned within said cushion for holding said resilient means in compressive relation with said fabric portions, whereby said fabric portions are compressed together by said compression means.

3. In a cushion, a laterally extending gripping unit comprising: a first laterally extending fabric portion, and a second fabric portion lying substantially parallel to said first fabric portion and adjacent thereto; resilient means lying adjacent said first and second fabric portions; and compression members positioned within said cushion for exerting compressive force on said resilient means, whereby said resilient means are partially compressed, and said first and second fabric portions are held together.

4. In a mattress of the character described: upper and lower mattress side portions; inwardly disposed upper and lower fabric layers forming an inward continuation of said mattress side portions, said fabric portions having contiguous surface portions; resilient means disposed above and below said upper and lower fabric portions; and compression means positioned within said mattress for exerting compressive force on said resilient means, whereby said upper and lower fabric portions are held in compressive relation.

5. In a sheet gripping system, a laterally extending gripping unit comprising: first and second fabric portions forming an envelope; compressible means disposed adjacent to said fabric portions; and compression means disposed adjacent to said compressible means, said compression means providing the compressive force necessary for holding said compressible means in partially compressed condition, whereby said fabric portions are held together.

6. In a sheet gripping system, a sheet gripping unit comprising: first and second fabric portions forming an envelope; resilient means disposed adjacent to said fabric portions; compression means for holding said resilient means under compression; and pneumatic compression means disposed between said compression means and said fabric portions, whereby the fabric portions are compressed together.

WILLIAM W. l-LAEFLIGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,259,534 Reynolds et a1. Oct. 21, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 192,535 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1923 

